Efficient yellow Dy:ZBLAN fiber laser with high-brightness diode-pumping at 450 nm.

We report on a low-threshold efficient yellow Dy-fiber laser with good beam quality featuring high-brightness pumping. It employs a single-clad 0.2 mol% Dy:ZBLAN fiber pumped by two 450-nm blue GaN laser diodes.

Deep-red double-clad fiber laser at 717 nm.

We report on a double-clad fiber laser operating on the P → F Pr transition (in the deep-red spectral range) pumped by a GaN diode laser at ∼442 nm. It employs a 0.8-mol% PrF-doped ZBLAN double-clad fiber with a 7.

Levonorgestrel butanoate intramuscular injection does not reliably suppress ovulation for 90 days in obese and normal-BMI women: a pilot study.

Background: We performed a pilot evaluation of a new formulation of levonorgestrel butanoate (LB) designed to be a long-acting injectable (6 months) contraceptive to determine pharmacodynamic end points in normal-body mass index (BMI) and obese women.

Study Design: Obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m) and normal-BMI, otherwise healthy, women received a single intramuscular injection of LB after ovulation was confirmed in a baseline cycle. The primary outcome was return of ovulation in days.

Measurement of Blood Volume in Adult Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Most biomedical facilities that use rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) limit the amount of blood that may be collected for experimental purposes. These limits typically are expressed as a percentage of blood volume (BV), estimated by using a fixed ratio of blood (mL) per body weight (kg). BV estimation ratios vary widely among facilities and typically do not factor in variables known to influence BV in humans: sex, age, and body condition.

Expression of the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB-2) in human and monkey ovarian follicles: a marker of growing follicles?

Background: ADRB-2 was implicated in rodent ovarian functions, including initial follicular growth. In contrast, ADRB-2 expression and function in nonhuman primate and human ovary were not fully known but innervation and significant levels of norepinephrine (NE), which is a ligand at the ADRB-2, were reported in the ovary.

Methods: We studied expression of ADRB-2 in human and rhesus monkey ovary (RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry; laser micro dissection) and measured levels of norepinephrine (NE; ELISA) in monkey follicular fluid (FF).

Relevance of early poststress variation in left ventricular function studied by gated-SPECT: evaluation in different clinical settings and relationship with angiography results.

Background: Stress-induced ischemia may cause a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). We evaluated the variation in early postexercise EF (S-EF) compared with rest EF (R-EF) in different clinical settings to detect ventricular dysfunction. We also correlated ventricular dysfunction with an angiographic score, the Syntax score, in a subgroup of ischemic patients.

Effects of hyperandrogenemia and increased adiposity on reproductive and metabolic parameters in young adult female monkeys.

Many patients with hyperandrogenemia are overweight or obese, which exacerbates morbidities associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To examine the ability of testosterone (T) to generate PCOS-like symptoms, monkeys received T or cholesterol (control) implants (n = 6/group) beginning prepubertally. As previously reported, T-treated animals had increased neuroendocrine drive to the reproductive axis [increased luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency] at 5 yr, without remarkable changes in ovarian or metabolic features.

Assessing the pulsatility of luteinizing hormone in female vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus).

Specific alterations in the pulsatility of luteinizing hormone (LH) are linked to obesity-related subfertility in ovulatory women. Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) are an Old World nonhuman primate that develops obesity and has a menstrual cycle similar to humans. We evaluated follicular-phase LH pulses in 12 adult normal-weight female vervets.

Altered transmural contractility in postmenopausal women affected by cardiac syndrome X.

Background: Cardiac syndrome X (CSX) is characterized by typical angina and abnormal exercise test results, with normal coronary arteries. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging has shown subendocardial hypoperfusion in patients with CSX after adenosine. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of separate myocardial layers to global function under stress in women with CSX.

Elevated androgens during puberty in female rhesus monkeys lead to increased neuronal drive to the reproductive axis: a possible component of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Hyperandrogenemia is associated with several clinical disorders in which both reproductive dysfunction and metabolic changes may coexist [i.e. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity and congenital adrenal hyperplasia].

Hormonal components of altered developmental pathways in the annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus.

The annual killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus, typically enters embryonic diapause at two distinct points of development, termed diapause II and III. This study explores the role of maternal and embryonic steroid hormones, including 17-β-estradiol (E2), androstenedione (A4) and testosterone (T), in regulating the developmental decision to enter or escape diapause II. Steroid hormone levels were measured in tissues isolated from adult female killifish during the normal lifespan of this species and in individuals of the same age that were producing either high or low proportions of escape embryos.

Persistence of hormonal and metabolic rhythms during fasting in 7- to 9-day-old rabbits entrained by nursing during the night.

Rabbit does nurse their litter once every 24h during the night. We hypothesized that corticosterone, ghrelin, leptin, and metabolites such as glucose, liver glycogen, and free fatty acids could be affected in the pups by the time at which does nurse them. Therefore, we measured these parameters in pups nursed at 02:00 h (nighttime for the doe) to compare them with results from a previous study where does nursed at 10:00 h, during daytime.

Generation of multipotent cell lines from a distinct population of male germ line stem cells.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) maintain spermatogenesis by self-renewal and generation of spermatogonia committed to differentiation. Under certain in vitro conditions, SSCs from both neonatal and adult mouse testis can reportedly generate multipotent germ cell (mGC) lines that have characteristics and differentiation potential similar to embryonic stem (ES) cells. However, mGCs generated in different laboratories showed different germ cell characteristics, i.

Serotonin in microdialysate from the mediobasal hypothalamus increases after progesterone administration to estrogen primed macaques.

Estrogen and progesterone act on gene and protein expression in serotonin neurons in a manner that suggests serotonin neurotransmission should increase. However, measurement of extracellular serotonin in macaques was lacking. Elevated prolactin secretion can be an indicator of increased serotonergic function and prolactin is increased by combined estrogen and progesterone treatment.

Sensitivity to stress-induced reproductive dysfunction linked to activity of the serotonin system.

Objective: To use a nonhuman primate model and determine whether individuals sensitive to stress-induced reproductive dysfunction have lower activity of central serotonergic neurons under nonstressed conditions.

Design: The activity of the central serotonergic system was assessed by measuring responsiveness to a fenfluramine challenge (5 mg/kg, IV) in sedated monkeys previously categorized as highly stress resistant (HSR; n = 4; normal menstrual cyclicity through two stress cycles), medium stress resistant (MSR; n = 5; ovulatory in the first stress cycle but anovulatory in the second stress cycle), or low stress resistant (i.e.

Serotonin neurons derived from rhesus monkey embryonic stem cells: similarities to CNS serotonin neurons.

We sought an in vitro primate model for serotonin neurons. Rhesus monkey embryonic stem (ES) cell colonies were isolated and differentiated into embryoid bodies (EBs), then transferred to serum-free medium with 1% insulin-transferrin-selenium for 7 days to induce neural precursor cell (NPC) formation. NPCs were cultured in medium with 1% N-2 neural supplement and human fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2, 10 ng/ml) for 7 days to stimulate cell proliferation.

Anxious behavior and fenfluramine-induced prolactin secretion in young rhesus macaques with different alleles of the serotonin reuptake transporter polymorphism (5HTTLPR).

Anxiety is a normal aspect of human personality, which can manifest in a variety of disorders and other negative traits. The primary treatment for anxiety is the class of drugs known as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which bind to the serotonin reuptake transporter. The upstream region of the gene that codes for this transporter contains a polymorphism that is an insertion/deletion event that in turn, produces long (l) and short (s) alleles in the population.

Prefrontal blood flow dysregulation in drug naive ADHD children without structural abnormalities.

Recent studies suggest a role for prefrontal cortex abnormalities in the pathogenesis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We evaluated young drug-naive ADHD outpatients without MRI structural abnormalities to detect prefrontal cortex regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) functional dysregulation; correlation between age and rCBF; and correlation between symptoms profile and rCBF. Functional brain activities (i.

Positive and sustained effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy on HIV-1-associated neurocognitive impairment.

Objectives: To determine whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is effective in HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment.

Design: An open label, prospective, observational study.

Methods: Since April 1996, 116 patients with advanced HIV infection, reverse transcriptase inhibitor (nRTI) experienced but protease inhibitor (PI) naive, were screened for the presence of neurocognitive impairment.

MACOP-B and involved field radiation therapy is an effective therapy for primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features of presentation and the response to two different third-generation regimens (F-MACHOP and MACOP-B) of primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLBCL), a recently defined distinct clinicopathological entity of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Patients And Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with MLBCL, eight male and 29 female (F/M ratio 1:3.5) with a median age of 35 years, were enrolled in the present study.

[Improvement of postinfarct left myocardial contractile function after administration of diltiazem].

Background: The impairment of intracellular calcium homeostasis is an important biochemical alteration in stunned and hibernating myocardium. These different forms of viable myocardium frequently occur after myocardial infarction and their recognition may modify the therapeutic program and prognosis. Experimental studies and experiences on male subjects have demonstrated that calcium-channel blockers exert a protective action on myocardial reperfusion injury and reduce infarct size.

Dipyridamole echocardiography and 99mTc-MIBI spect dipyridamole scintigraphy for cardiac evaluation prior to peripheral vascular surgery.

Coronary artery disease accounts for most of the early and late mortality and morbidity associated with vascular surgery. Cardiac pre-operative evaluation is mandatory for the assessment of cardiac risk. The aim of this study is to compare dipyridamole scintigraphy with 99mTc-MIBI (MIBI-dipy) and dipyridamole echocardiography (ECHO-dipy) and to evaluate their capability in identifying cardiac risk for strong events such as death, unstable angina or myocardial infarction.